Kazakhstan: Human Rights Council Adds Eight More to Political Prisoner List

On April 23, Kazakhstan’s expert council of human rights defenders added eight new names to its list of political prisoners, Orda.kz reports.

Civil activists argue that all of those listed are imprisoned for their political activities.

Among the new additions is journalist Daniyar Adilbekov, author of the “Dikaya Orda” Telegram channel.

The council’s April 23, 2025, decision officially recognized the following individuals as political prisoners:

• Daniyar Adilbekov, journalist  
  
• Aidar Syzdykov, a civil activist from Astana
  
• Lazat Anafina, civil activist from Astana, detained while campaigning to form the party “Alga, Kazakhstan!”
• Aidar Mubarakov, Nuralan Zhauylbayev, Fazylzhan Sydykov, Nurlan Temirgaliyev, and Zhanat Kazakbay, all residents of Almaty, who protested against the construction of a nuclear power plant

With the latest update, the list now includes a total of 31 individuals.

The expert council comprises prominent human rights advocates, including Galym Ageleuov, Lukpan Akhmedyarov, Zauresh Battalova, Gulmira Birzhanova, Anara Ibraeva, Evgeny Zhovtis, Yerlan Kaliyev, and Bakhytzhan Toregozhina.

Original Author: Aliya Askarova